U.S. Greenlights $6.6 Billion Arms Package for Israel, Including Apache Helicopters

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department announced on Friday the approval of a $6.67 billion arms sale to Israel, a move that underscores Washington's enduring military commitment to its ally even as a tenuous ceasefire holds in Gaza. The package includes 30 new Apache attack helicopters and a fleet of infantry assault vehicles.

The deal, which had been under review, will see Israel acquire the advanced Boeing-made Apache helicopters for an estimated $3.8 billion and armored vehicles worth $1.98 billion. Additional contracts for support equipment and light utility helicopters bring the total value to $6.67 billion, according to notifications sent to Congress. Defense contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin are the primary suppliers.

"The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the State Department said in a statement, characterizing the sale as consistent with long-standing policy.

This authorization arrives during a sensitive period. While a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely held since early October 2025, sporadic violence continues in Gaza. Palestinian health officials report that over 71,600 people have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Israeli forces have frequently deployed Apache helicopters in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, making the latest sale a point of contention for human rights advocates.

"This isn't just business as usual; it's a moral failure," said David Chen, a policy analyst with the Center for Conflict Responsibility. "Approving more attack helicopters while Gaza is in ruins and the ceasefire is fragile sends a devastating message that Palestinian lives are secondary to arms contracts."

In contrast, Sarah Epstein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Security Institute, offered a more measured view: "From a strategic standpoint, maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge is a decades-old pillar of U.S. policy. These systems are primarily for defense and deterrence. Halting all sales could unilaterally weaken an ally without guaranteeing a change in the conflict's dynamics."

The U.S. provides billions in military aid to Israel annually, much of it as direct assistance. United Nations experts and rights groups have repeatedly called for a halt to weapons transfers, arguing they enable further violence.

Separately, the State Department also approved a major $9 billion sale of Patriot missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia. The administration stated this would bolster regional air defense cooperation. This decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, following recent U.S. naval movements and Saudi assurances to Iran that its territory would not be used for attacks.

Marcus Johnson, a veteran and founder of the blog 'Realpolitik Watch,' commented sharply: "The hypocrisy is staggering. We're selling offensive gear to one side and defensive systems to another, all while preaching peace. It's pure geopolitical profiteering, fueling an endless cycle of escalation."

Anya Sharma, a professor of international relations, provided broader context: "These simultaneous sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia reflect the Biden administration's attempt to balance competing interests: upholding alliance commitments, supporting regional partners against perceived threats from Iran, and managing domestic and international pressure regarding the war in Gaza. The fallout will be diplomatic as much as military."